Saint Joseph Catholic Church

“The abuse and manipulation of God’s name to justify this and any other war is the gravest sin we can commit at this time,” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, said during a webinar. “War is first and foremost political and has very material interests, like most wars. We must do everything we can to leave no room for this pseudo-religious language, which speaks not of God, but of ourselves.”

Asked specifically about Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s recent reference to Psalm 144, Cardinal Pizzaballa said:

We need to say that no, there are no new crusades. If God is present in this war, He is among those who are dying, who are suffering, who are in pain, who are oppressed in various ways, throughout the Middle East—I am not saying on one side or the other.

This conflict has religious connotations, but they are manipulations: those who wish to bring religion into it exploit the name of God.

“The Court has directed the renewal of specific phases of the trial, including the re-examination of certain witnesses and evidentiary elements, and has identified procedural shortcomings that require remedy at the appellate level,” Vatican News reported. The Court upheld Pope Francis’s authority to issue rescripts that affected the case, but ruled that ‘lack of timely publication of one Rescript may have affected the validity of specific investigative measures adopted on its basis.”

The Court also ruled that “Vatican prosecutors made procedural errors that nullified the original indictment against Cardinal Angelo Becciu and the others and required a new trial,” according to Vatican News, the news agency of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. “At the same time, the Court clarified that the partial mistrial does not invalidate the entirety of the first-instance proceedings. Both the trial and the judgment retain their juridical effects.”

The Associated Press described the appellate ruling as “a stunning blow to both Pope Francis’ legacy and Vatican prosecutors who had put a cardinal and several other people on trial over alleged financial crimes.”

“In ruling that Francis was effectively exercising legislative power under the heading of an administrative act, the judges made what appears to be an unprecedented ruling, effectively bringing the procedural legitimacy of papal legal acts under the court’s power of judicial review,” The Pillar reported.

The Pontiff will deliver a livestream virtual address to those in attendance at Independence Mall.

“The Holy Father is deeply grateful to the National Constitution Center for this prestigious award, in such a meaningful anniversary for the American People, as they are called to reflect on the 250 years of their history holding the Constitution of the United States and Liberty as hallmarks of their heritage for future generations,” said Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office.

“We are deeply concerned by the profound social fragmentation currently afflicting our country,” the conference’s Permanent Council stated. “Political polarization, distrust of institutions, the use of power for private interests, political instability that hinders the development of serious policies, ever-widening social gaps, and the weakening of the communal fabric all generate a climate of confrontation.”

“We invite citizens to evaluate whether the moral integrity, the ethical track record, and the proposals of those aspiring to govern the country are truly oriented toward the common good,” the bishops continued. “Our country needs leaders characterized by honesty, transparency, and consistency between their words and their actions—individuals capable of exercising power with responsibility, competence, and an authentic spirit of service.”

“An authentic democracy demands respect for the Rule of Law, for institutions, and for civic participation,” the bishops added. “From this same perspective, it is important to assess the candidates’ commitment to upholding human dignity, protecting individual rights, ensuring public safety, fostering social inclusion, and respecting the cultural diversity of our country.”

Continuing his series of Wednesday general audiences on the Second Vatican Council and its documents, Pope Leo XIV devoted his audience today to the Church as a priestly and prophetic people.